Here is a how I have been cleaning our birds for many years. Not the only way of doing it, but a quick and easy way I have found to save every bit of meat on the birds with little fuss....pretty clean too;

1. Trim head, feet and wings at first joint.2. Reverse the skin and feathers over the bird, starting at the neck and ending at the vent.3. With pruners, or scissors, or game shears....starting at the neck, cut a 1 inch path thru the back and ribs to the vent.4. Pull neck, vertebrae, and entrails all towards the vent until all hang from the vent, trim it all off.5. Wash bird and toss on ice.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” John Wayne

Great stuff, Most guys just cut out the breast and toss the rest, I usually cut the skin and peel it off then try and get the guts out and make a complete mess of it so thanks for this tutorial it will come in handy for sure !!!

Forgot to add....it helps to have a great firewood round to clean them on.. We have been cleaning grouse on that round for years at our favorite ridge top grouse camp site, probably atleast 80 grouse cleaned on it over the years.... Every year we return and use it, and not a single feather can be found from the previous year....

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molṑn labé

A Knuckle Draggin Neanderthal Meat Head

Kill your television....do it now.....

Don't make me hurt you.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” John Wayne

Yup, my thanks as well. As a relatively new hunter (went from shooting with buddies who got to worry about all that to owning a dog and having clean my own birds), it helps to see how to save all the meat.

Just to clarify, you first cut one inch down the back before cutting from the neck to the vent?

That is a much better way than I have been doing it. Thanks ICE.

I gathered that you cut a half inch on each side of the backbone (with a shears)from the neck to the vent the full length of the bird so all the insides stay intact and remove the entire spine along with the innerds ?? sounds like a very clean way of doing it compared to what I have been doing !!!

Sportfury, robo was correct, I cut down both sides of the spine to the vent, then pull the neck/spine. The entrails often pull out with the backbone. If they don't, just sweep them loose with your fingers and the whole magilla hangs from the pooper. One snip and all is loose and falls away.....Sometimes a bit of lung to flick out with your fingers...not too bad...

Hey you guys who like stomping on the birds and yanking the wings/legs....lets see some pictures!

Are they all pretty lookin when done?

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molṑn labé

A Knuckle Draggin Neanderthal Meat Head

Kill your television....do it now.....

Don't make me hurt you.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” John Wayne

Stomping and pulling works great as well and is very clean if you prune the wing bones as well. Nice tutorial!

I had heard of this method years ago and attempted it on several occasions, the only problem I ran into is when I stood up I had both legs and nothing else, they just seperated from the bird and I had to skin and pluck anyhow. Since the bird has to have it's head still attached while in the field, it's almost impossible to use this method while the bird is still warm unless you get it right at the end of your day in the field and hunt close to home !!!

Never seen anyone in our group, or others do this since the beginning of time.

Similar to keeping the testes, or doe/cowhole attached to a quarter until it was processed. Never seen it.

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molṑn labé

A Knuckle Draggin Neanderthal Meat Head

Kill your television....do it now.....

Don't make me hurt you.

“I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.” John Wayne